13 blocks to
Schôn war!
The 13 hiking routes from the booklet "13 blokskes om" lead you through the countryside and the villages of Kaatsheuvel, Loon op Zand and De Moer. Go out, have fun and relax together. After all, you are in the region where a friendly atmosphere, being together and entertainment are central. Have fun in De Langstraat: garden of Brabant!
Historically, the municipality Loon op Zand(Loon op Zand, Kaatsheuvel, De Moer) has had both industrial and agricultural activity. In the 19th century there were hundreds of shoe factories and shoe factories in Kaatsheuvel and Loon op Zand. With very hard work they made good money, which was spent mainly on delicious food and drink. This was a basis for the still burgundian life lived in the municipality. If you look closely, you can still see many shoe factories behind the houses in the centers. There was, and is, also agriculture and cattle breeding in municipality Loon op Zand; which is also visible. The Efteling proves that there is a lot of creativity in people's genes. Most of the people from this region worked there in their younger years and sometimes still work there. After all, hospitality and the motivation to pamper our guests is in our blood!
Strolling, taking a good look and enjoying what you see
(Walking, looking closely and enjoying what you see)
The walking routes in the booklet are short and therefore can also be walked with children in 1 to 2 hours from the three village centers. Of course, you can always tie a few routes together if you feel like a longer walk. To get to the beautiful and special dune area you have to walk, bike or drive to one of the Nature Gates. At Natuurpoort De Roestelberg, the "Brabant Sahara" lies at your feet. If you walk ('kuiert' is what it's called in our dialect) the walking routes in this booklet you will see traces of the past here and there. In the outskirts of Kaatsheuvel and Loon op Zand you can enjoy 'historical nature' in the Loonse and Drunense Dunes and very beautiful 'new nature' in Huis ter Heide. Enjoy the beautiful views of the countryside around these three villages.
The Nut
De Moer is the smallest village of the municipality of Loon op Zand, but with its approximately 650 inhabitants very active and always cozy. Historically, De Moer is an agricultural village. In season you can find farm stores with delicious local products in different places. In the three restaurants you have the possibility to have a cup of coffee or a snack and a drink or a delicious dinner. Anyway, around the village you can enjoy the beautiful nature. A stone's throw away you will find the Huis ter Heide estate, a still relatively unknown nature reserve of some 1,000 hectares. Here Natuurmonumenten has created a natural cemetery of some 35 ha for a number of years.
Besides the nice terraces, you will find a lot of variety in the nature reserve. The wet fens with the plank path, a view over these fens from the two observation towers and do not forget to watch out for the Scottish Highlanders, who can just pass by if you are within the gates of the area. If you keep your eyes peeled you will also find many smaller animal species such as birds, butterflies, and so on.
De Moer is typically Brabant. A nice little church and "the café" across the street. Next to the café-restaurant you find the elementary school. The (head) teacher used to live next door. It is one of the smallest schools in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, there is also a small residential area called De Hooivork.
Loon op Zand
The village of Loon op Zand is located in the municipality of Loon op Zand and has a rich history dating back to the early Middle Ages. It received its name from the Dukes of Brabant, who gave the area in fief to local lords in the Middle Ages. It was called Heerlijckheid Loon op 't Sant or Venloon. The landscape around the village originally consisted of extensive forests and sand drifts, some of which were later converted to farmland. We are proud of its historic landmarks, including Het Witte Kasteel, Church of St. John the Baptist and the picturesque Loonse and Drunense Dunes. This vast nature reserve with forests is one of the largest areas of drifting sand in Western Europe. Over the centuries, Loon op Zand has developed into a vibrant community, with tourism, agriculture and crafts playing an important role.
The medieval White Castle from the 14th century used to be a larger complex. Part of it was demolished and part was transformed into the present stately mansion. It tells the story of the past, such as the noble families who lived there. It had various functions such as residence, hunting lodge, country residence, museum and headquarters during the German occupation. Currently it is under the management of a foundation, which from 2014 with about 50 volunteers is renovating and maintaining it step by step. Het Witte Kasteel is now a popular location for parties, wedding venues, meetings, overnight stays, cultural activities and tours. The Loonse and Drunense Dunes are absolutely not to be missed. This is not only unique and breathtakingly beautiful, but also has a history that dates back to the Ice Age. The shifting sands and vast forests have remained largely unchanged through the centuries. Note that the hiking trails in this booklet do not reach the vast plains. There are several other trails on this website that do lead through the area.
Kaatsheuvel
The village of Kaatsheuvel, also called "the Ketsheuvel" by locals, with its nearly 17,000 inhabitants, is the largest residential center in the municipality of Loon op Zand. Kaatsheuvel has a rich history in the shoe industry. From 1700 shoes were made on a large scale. First 100% by hand, later machines also lent a hand. The 50s and 60s are also called "the golden years".
Just about all of our ancestors worked in the shoe industry. From the 1970s, this "craft industry" disappeared; competition from low-wage countries was too great. After that, many shoe factories were demolished, but if you look closely, you can still see many of them. They were given a different function. There are still a number of detached factories, but much more often you see the small factories and workshops.In the center and old approach streets, behind just about every house there was an extension for a shoe repair shop or small workshop. You recognize these by the rectangular shapes and (often) by the fascias. Look closely in the narrow dams between houses and count them!
The people of Kaatsheuvel proved to be resilient and creative. With hard work and a lot of creativity, other manufacturing industries and other great initiatives were created. For example, we should be proud of the Efteling, don't you think?
Kaatsheuvel also has an agricultural sector. If you walk in the countryside, you will see agricultural and horticultural activities. You also see stables for cows, pigs and chickens. Can they be seen outside today?
Enjoy the 5 fun walks. One runs through the center and past the three churches. The others also run through the countryside. Towards the Efteling you walk through a special wooded area, with the others you walk between the meadows and / or through Sprang-Capelle. Something for everyone and you will always find a catering establishment to spoil yourself.
Prefer paper to digital?
Do you prefer the routes on paper rather than digitally? You can pick up the booklet containing all 13 routes for free at the Tourist Information Point in Kaatsheuvel. Have fun!
